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W. X. STEVENS. MECHANICAL TOY.

Patented M ar.20,18831.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM STEVENS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF OOLUMBIA.

MECHANICAL TOY SPECIFIGATIlON forming- ;oart of Letters Patent No. 274,148, dated March 20, 1883,

Application filed February 8,1883. (N model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM X. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Washington, Dis rict of Golu mbia, have invented a Mechanical Toy, of which the following is a specification. i The object of my invention is to produce a mechanical toy to imitate the game of leapfrog, to make the same attractive and entertaining to children, yet simple of construction and inexpensive. To this end it is in the nature of a pair of wheels to be rolled upon the floor, supporting and operating two or more figures to pass over-each other alternately; and it consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying draw-' ings, in which-- t bigure 1 is a perspective view of my invention, showing two frogs as actors; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing three boys as the actors.

A represents the actors, which may be frogs or boys, or any other figures of animate or inanimate things. These actors are hung to swing freely upon cross-bars B by means of Wire loops 0. The cross bars are secured at their ends to spokes D of the wheels E. The wheels are provided with eyes at their centers to serve as bearings in which the two ends of a bail, F, are supported. This bail may be mg enough to serve as a handle for the child to draw the toy by, or its central .part may be extended just enough away from the wheels to allow the actors to pass it freely. When the Wheels are rolled along the floor the actors will revolve over each other, all the time hanging beneath the bars 'in an upright position.

The distance of a cross-bar B from the rims of the wheels is the distance required for the body of the actor between the bar and the floor. The loops 0 are made long, in order that the actors center of gravity may be far below the support, to make him hang right side up, and the purpose of the elongated openings in the-loops is to permit the actor to land on the floor before his supporting cross-bar reaches its lowest point, thus permitting the actor to rest on the floor until'his cross-bar rises to as flexible or elastic supports-may be used,

orthe actors may be hung too high to hit the floor. Any number of actors may be hung upon one bar, and any number of bars may be used. The wheels may be of any style which will carryand show the actors well. On the sameprinciple,the wheelstnay have thebarsextending, like cranks, from their outer faces to carry the actors; or an axle having bends in it to form two cranks to carry the actors over in circles side by side might be used as a substitute for the crossbars. By using relatively smaller actors the wheels may have a fulllength axle carrying a figure, over which the actors would pass, as dogs leaping over their trainer, for example. By making a single wheel or roller thick enough to stand. on its edge, and providing the same with bars projectmg from its sides and actors hung on the bars, a modification of this toy would be produced. An actor may also be hung to a wheel by flexible cords, without the use of cross-bars, the length of the cords being greater than the circu inference to allow the figures to land ahead of the center of the wheel, and to be lifted after the center of the wheel has passed the same, as with the bars and loops.

What I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a hoop or wheel, of a toy figure hung to the same, between the axis and circumference thereof, as described.

2. The combination, with a hoop or wheel, of a toy figure hung to the sam'e by a'connection longer than the distance from its point of at tachment to the rim of the wheel.

3. Two wheels connected together at a little distance within their rims by two or more cross-bars, in combination with figures of frogs or other objects loosely hung upon said bars,

to remain below the same while revolving with the wheels, as shown and described. V 4. One or more wheels having bars projecting from the side or sides thereof, a .d figures of any o jects loosely hung to said bars, to remain below the same while revolving with the wheehas shown and described.

5. The combination, with a wheel or wheels, of toy figures loosely hung thereto ata distanccfrom their axis of revolution, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM X. STEVENS.

. Attest: y

A. SrSTEUART, Gno. S. BEooK. 

